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Photos: Lynx lose squeaker in game one of finals

Chelsea Gray let a 14-foot jumper fly in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals that delivered an 85-84 victory on Sunday over the Minnesota Lynx in the kind of edge-of-your-seat finish that no one saw coming when the Sparks led 28-2 in the first quarter.

The Sparks beat the Lynx in a five-game thriller last season, and Game 1 had plenty of fireworks even before the opening tip.

With the Lynx locking arms in solidarity, the Sparks quickly left the Williams Arena court just before "The Star Spangled Banner" began to play, joining hundreds of NFL players in opposition to President Trump's call for NFL owners to fire players who do not stand for the national anthem. As soon as the song was over, they returned to a chorus of boos and then made another emphatic statement once the game started.

The Sparks led 28-2 in the first quarter and 78-66 with five minutes to play, but gave it all back after a charge from the Lynx.

Maya Moore scored 27 points and Sylvia Fowles had 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Lynx, who roared back from that 26-point hole to take an 84-83 lead with 6.5 seconds to play. A victory would have been the largest playoff comeback in WNBA history, but Minnesota could not get one last stop.

"I know everyone is going to talk about what a great comeback it was, but that's not the world we live in," Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. "That means absolutely nothing to us."

"We gave ourselves a chance to win the game, but there's no question that the championship isn't going to be won with that kind of stretch that we allowed in that first quarter," Moore said.

2Reigning WNBA MVP and Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles warms up before the start of the first game of the playoffs.Evan Frost | MPR News3Four-year-old Felix Mortensen sits on the lap of Bob Bollweg before the start of the game.Evan Frost | MPR News4The Minnesota Lynx players link arms during the national anthem before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals.Evan Frost | MPR News5Fans fill Williams Arena at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.Evan Frost | MPR News6Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson shoots a 3-pointer over LA Sparks guard Candace Parker.Evan Frost | MPR News7Center Sylvia Fowles posts up against two LA defenders.Evan Frost | MPR News8A Lynx fan waves a towel in in the upper deck of Williams Arena.Evan Frost | MPR News9Guard (and Hutchinson native) Lindsay Whalen dribbles the ball at Williams Arena, where she played during her college career at the U.Evan Frost | MPR News10Lynx center Sylvia Fowles looks up at the rim under a defender.Evan Frost | MPR News11Forward Maya Moore goes up for a layup to put the Lynx ahead by one in the last minute of the fourth quarter. The team did not hold on to the lead.Evan Frost | MPR News12Two LA Sparks players celebrate after winning.Evan Frost | MPR News13Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve speaks to the press after the game.Evan Frost | MPR News